Deontay Wilder: "Wladimir Klitschko is hoping that Stiverne wins because he knows it's the easier fight for him."

In less than three weeks, Las Vegas will host their first meaningful Heavyweight contest since Vitali Klitschko defended his WBC strap against Danny Williams in December of 2004 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on HBO PPV.

Staying true to the World Boxing Council's Heavyweight lineage, incumbent champion Bermane Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KOs) will defend the same title against undefeated American knock-out artist Deontay Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs) at the MGM Grand on January 17, 2015.

While most are excited about the prospect of the eventual winner competing with Wladimir Klitschko in a massive unification bout next year, the title challenger is claiming most fans would prefer to see a showdown between himself and the universally recognized Heavyweight Champion.

"The world would rather see a Klitschko/Wilder fight happen in 2015 than any other fight in the division," claims Deontay Wilder. "Who really wants to see Wladimir fight Bermane Stiverne? Everyone wants to see how a Deontay Wilder/Wladimir Klitschko fight would play out."

"And I'm going to make sure that it happens."

Although the unbeaten puncher from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, insists the boxing community overwhelmingly favors a unification bout between the "Bronze Bomber" and "Dr. Steelhammer", the former Olympian whole heartedly believes that Wladimir is secretly hoping for a big win by the reigning WBC title holder.

"I'm sure Wladimir is hoping that Bermane retains the title, because I know he sees that as the easier fight," claims the 29 year old Heavyweight. "Klitschko wants to get the WBC belt and to unify the division, and he sees Bermane Stiverne as the easiest way to achieve that."

"He sees the same things I do. Just like it would be an easy fight for Wladimir, it's going to be an easy fight for me as well."

While no one, including Deontay, completely discounts the current champion's chances for victory in the highly anticipated contest, the American contender honestly believes that his natural athletic gifts are going to create a distinct separation on fight night.

"I have so many advantages going into this fight. When Stiverne sees my speed, power, athleticism, and footwork in the ring, he's going to realize that he's never been in the ring with someone like me and he isn't going to know how to handle that."

"There's no heavyweight in the world that can prepare him for what's coming. No one that he's sparring with or training with is going to be able to show him the things that I'm going to show him on fight night."

"I'm blessed with something that can't be taught, and that's power. I have special power. He's going to learn that there's nothing he can do to offset my power."

"Stiverne vs. Wilder", a 12-round world championship bout for Stiverne's WBC Heavyweight World Title, is co-promoted by Don King Productions and Golden Boy Promotions. Unbeaten WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz defends against a challenger to be announced in the co-main feature.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING event will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., and will air live on SHOWTIME (10:00 p.m. ET/ 7:00 p.m. PT).